Robert Wayne&nbspClifford

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Full Name

Robert Wayne Clifford

Background

Background From the Marlborough Express 16th October 2008 Blenheim man Robert Wayne Clifford has been imprisoned for three and a half years for his sexual assaults on a young girl. In the Blenheim District Court yesterday , Judge David McKegg said Clifford had used the aggressive nature of his personality to enforce authority over the girl. The offences occurred over a seven-month period in 2006.

"It's not as if this offending occurred just once in an impromptu way. "This was premeditated and predatory offending by you," Judge McKegg said. Clifford, 37, had initially denied the charges: three sexual connections with a child under 16, one indecent assault on a child under 16 and assaulting a child under 14. He changed his plea and admit them on August 26 this year, the day he was to defend himself in a jury trial. Defence counsel Serina Bailey, from Christchurch, said Clifford deserved credit for confessing his guilt, saving the victim and her family from the emotional distress a trial would have brought.

Miss Bailey acknowledged the offences had impacted hugely on the victim and the victim's extended family. Clifford's own family had suffered, too, she said. Crown prosecutor Janine Bonifant said Clifford needed to be held accountable for the statutory harm he had done to the wider community, as well as the victim and her family.

Aggravating factors included the victim's age, the repetitive nature of the offences and the psychological abuse Clifford applied on her. "The (physical) assault that occurred ... was serious enough for her to black out for 10 seconds or so," Miss Bonifant added. Judge McKegg said a five-year sentence was called for, but he would reduce it by 18 months, given Clifford's guilty plea. However, he said there were no mitigating factors to the offending.

"Children of that age require the care and protection of responsible adults ... you made her into some sort of play thing, a disgraceful way for anyone to deal with a child."Judge McKegg sentenced Clifford to three years and six months prison for sexual connection with a young person, 18 months for indecently assaulting a young person and one year for assaulting a child. All terms will run together.

He also convicted Clifford of two unrelated recent charges: possessing an offensive weapon and threatening behaviour. The sentence for those would be absorbed with the others, Judge McKegg said.

Stuff story 16th October A man who used what a judge described as his aggressive nature to enforce his authority over a young girl has been jailed for sexual offences against her. Blenheim man Robert Wayne Clifford, 37, initially denied the charges – three of sexual connections with a child under 16, one of indecent assault on a child under 16 and assaulting a child under 14.

He changed his plea and admitted them on August 26 this year, appearing for sentence in Blenheim District Court yesterday. Judge David McKegg said Clifford had used the aggressive nature of his personality to enforce authority over the girl, the Marlborough Express reported. The offences happened over a seven-month period in 2006.

"This was premeditated and predatory offending by you," Judge McKegg said. Judge McKegg said a five-year sentence was called for, but he would reduce it by 18 months, given Clifford's guilty plea. However, he said there were no mitigating factors to the offending.

"Children of that age require the care and protection of responsible adults...you made her into some sort of play thing, a disgraceful way for anyone to deal with a child." Judge McKegg sentenced Clifford to three years and six months prison for sexual connection with a young person, 18 months for indecently assaulting a young person and one year for assaulting a child. The terms were concurrent.

Christchurch, June 4 NZPA - An undischarged bankrupt has got three months' jail for running up a series of debts around Blenheim businesses. Robert Wayne Clifford, 37, is already serving a three-year six-month jail term for unrelated offending.

It is the third time he has been caught out incurring debts while a bankrupt. He pleaded guilty to nine charges in Christchurch District Court. Crown prosecutor Anna McGoughan said he had been adjudicated bankrupt on a debtor's petition in Palmerston North in April 2005. The latest offending took place over a two year period from July 2006.

Clifford obtained credit from a company that laid television cable, bought $350 worth of dog food, ran up bills for tools and sharpening services, and a veterinary bill. At one firm he set up an account in the name of a non-existent company. The bills totalled $4170. The charges included completing a credit account application form using a false name, and failing to tell the Official Assignee of a change of name.

Judge David Saunders imposed a concurrent term which added to Clifford's present term because he said it was separate offending which occurred against a background of dishonesty.

Alias

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Date of Birth

Born 1971

Offences

3 counts of unlawful sexual connection with a person under 16 1 count of indecent assault on a person under 16 and assaulting a child under the age of 14 All convictions resulted from offending against a Blenheim girl in 2006 Also convicted for possessing an offensive weapon and threatening behaviour Previous convictions for burglary, theft